Twenty-four

Mel started and Manny snapped up to his feet.

“Okay, then, I’m just going to do that thing,” he said. He jerked his thumb at the door and backpedaled out of there so fast, Mel was surprised he didn’t leave skid marks. He was halfway out the door before he turned back. “Remember what I said.”

“On it,” Mel said.

The door shut and she turned to look at Holly. In a fluffy bathrobe with her dark brown hair in a ponytail on top of her head and her face free of the layers of makeup, she looked much younger than she was, younger and more vulnerable and emotionally fragile. Mel felt like a heel.

“That”—Mel waved her hand in the air before she continued—“wasn’t what it sounded like.”

“Huh, interesting,” Holly said. She looked grumpy. “’Cause it looked like you lied to me.”

Mel gasped. “That was blunt.”

“Sorry, but I’m feeling a little abused right now. It’s been a rough night.”

“I get that,” Mel said. “But let’s remember who found you behind the grate and act accordingly, shall we?”

Holly put her hands over her face and sighed. “You told me that there wasn’t anything between you and Manny.”

“There isn’t.”

“Please,” Holly said. “I know a guy who is pining when I see one. This is Vegas. The city is rife with dudes who are trying to forget.”

“Manny and I are just friends. That’s all we’ve ever been, and that’s all we’ll ever be.”

“He doesn’t look at you like you’re a friend,” Holly said. It sounded as if the words cost her. As if she’d been trying to deny the truth but was now forced to accept the stark reality of what she had seen when she’d walked into the room.

“Manny and I have a connection,” Mel said. “But I’m in love with someone else and have been since I was twelve years old. It’s not going away and it’s never going to change even if he and I don’t end up together, which is sadly what I’m afraid is going to happen.”

Holly sighed and gave her a sympathetic look. Then she sat down beside Mel and put her arm around her. “I’m sorry. That blows.”

The unexpected compassion made Mel’s eyes tear up. She hadn’t really allowed herself to dwell on the situation with Joe since their phone call. Abductions and crazy Elvises had a way of distracting a girl from these things. Holly’s sympathy felt sincere and it made Mel realize how much she was hurting over Joe and the end of whatever it was that they’d had.

“Listen,” Mel said. She cleared her throat. “If I wasn’t in love with Joe DeLaura—”

“DeLaura?”

“Angie’s older brother—long story—I would absolutely arm-wrestle you for Manny Martinez. But . . .”

“But you are in love with Joe,” Holly said.

“Yeah,” Mel said. “And Manny knows it and has always known it. I can’t ever be with Manny because he would always think he was my second choice and he deserves to be someone’s first choice.”

“So what’s wrong with this Joe guy? Why hasn’t he put a ring on it yet?” Holly asked. “Clearly, you’re a catch and I’m not just saying that because you’re a hot cupcake baker. You really are the whole package.”

“He tried. He asked and I said yes, but . . .”

“Uh-oh, that sounds like a Baby Got Back–sized butt,” Holly said.

“It is. I freaked out.”

“Oh,” Holly said. “So you’re the weak link.”

“I was but then I proposed to him,” Mel said.

Holly leaned back and studied Mel’s face. “Wait. Do we need wine and cupcakes for the rest of this story?”

Mel laughed. She really, really liked Holly and not just because she was offering to drink and eat with her but because she seemed to understand that things with Joe were complicated and she wasn’t being judgy about it.

“That might help,” Mel said.

Holly went and grabbed an already open bottle and two glasses. While she poured, she asked, “So, you asked him and . . .”

“He said no,” Mel said.

“What?” Holly handed Mel her glass and took a sip of her own. “Why? Did he explain?”

She ducked back into the kitchen and returned with a plate full of cupcakes.

“No,” Mel said. “He just said no and he left.”

“I would have gutted him like a fish.”

“He’s a county attorney, a prosecutor.”

“A really nasty paper cut then,” Holly said. “Or two.”

“Manny was the one who explained it to me,” Mel said. “Joe is trying Frank Tucci in Phoenix. He has been working this case for months.”

“Tucci? I know that name,” Holly said. “He’s connected, like, big-time connected even here in Vegas.”

“He also has a reputation for murdering anyone the prosecution team cares about to ensure he gets off.”

“So, Joe said no because he didn’t want you in the line of fire,” Holly said. She put her hand over her heart. “That is so romantic.”

“You’d think,” Mel said.

“You don’t?” Holly asked.

“I did, but I was so mad at him for not explaining it to me,” Mel said. “If Manny hadn’t told me what was going on, I would have just thought Joe didn’t love me anymore.”

“Harsh,” Holly said.

“The thing is, his career will always come first, always,” Mel said. “He’s making the world a better, safer place. I admire him for it, but how can I compete with that?”

“I’ve got some pasties you could borrow, blue sparklies with tassels,” Holly said. “I could probably even teach you how to spin them in different directions.”

Mel laughed, which sidelined the tears that had been about to fall, which she suspected was Holly’s plan.

“Look, none of my romantic drama matters,” Mel said. “I just want you to know that Manny is more into you than any other woman I’ve ever seen him encounter, even me.”

Holly’s face went pink and Mel was pleased to see that the thought of the detective liking her brought the showgirl to blushes.

“He seems to care very much about you,” Holly said.

“Well, we’ve been through a lot,” Mel said. “All I can tell you is that he’s a great guy.”

“I could use a great guy,” Holly said.

“Then give him a chance,” Mel said.

Holly nodded and Mel felt relieved that she hadn’t gunned down anything between Manny and his new love interest before it had a chance to achieve liftoff. As far as she could tell, they both deserved something good in their life.

“Out of curiosity, how do you envision your life being after you open up the bakery?” Mel asked. She needed a change of subject as she didn’t want to have any more relationship heart-to-hearts. The night had been draining enough as it was.

“I’ll become a morning person,” Holly said with a smile. “I’ll see sunrises again.”

“That’s the truth,” Mel said. “Do you think it will be a tough adjustment?”

“Not if I keep in mind that I get to see my daughter after school, in the evening, at night, and on weekends,” Holly said. “I am so ready to have a normal schedule, maybe I’ll even be room mother at her school.”

“You’d be fabulous,” Mel said.

“And the best part is that I get to be my own boss—succeed or fail, however this turns out, it’s on me,” Holly said. “I am so ready for that.”

“What about your current custody arrangement with Billy?” Mel asked. “Is he going to be okay with you having Sydney more often?”

“He said it was great timing as it will help them get used to the new baby,” Holly said. “Lisa will be able to focus on the baby and get some rest. The timing really is perfect for everyone.”

“Does Lisa feel the same?” Mel finished off her wine in one swallow. It had the instant mellowing effect she’d been hoping for. She was pretty sure when she went to bed, she’d be able to sleep for a week, except for that whole someone murdering Scott, stalking Holly, and terrorizing their bakery locations thing.

“Yes . . . er . . . maybe.” Holly looked thoughtful. “You know she hasn’t really said. I just assumed she did because of the new baby, but now that I think about it, I don’t know how she really feels. I don’t think she ever said one way or the other.”

Holly’s phone vibrated on the counter where she’d left it.

She rose from her seat to check it. “Excuse me.”

She checked the screen and her eyebrows rose. “It’s Lisa.”

Mel and Holly exchanged a look as if they’d been caught talking about someone. Mel made a motion with her hand for Holly to go ahead and answer it.

“Hi, Lisa, what’s up?” Holly’s voice had a forced upbeat note and Mel gathered she had no intention of telling Lisa what had transpired tonight. She couldn’t blame her. Given how protective Billy was of Sydney, she was sure Holly didn’t want to give him any more reason to keep her daughter from her.

Mel watched Holly’s face and noticed that she paled and put her hand over her chest as if to try and calm her heartbeat.

“How high is her temperature?” Holly asked. “Did you give her any medicine?”

Mel watched as Holly started pacing. It was clear that Sydney was sick. Mel felt a pang in her chest for Holly. How hard it must be for a mom to be separated from her child when she was sick.

“What did Billy say?” Holly asked. There was a pause. “What do you mean he’s not there? Where is he?”

Her pacing picked up speed and she placed a hand on her forehead as if warding off a headache. Mel could hear the voice on the other end of the phone but couldn’t make out what she said. Judging by the high pitch and rapid-fire pace of the words, Lisa sounded as if she was having a meltdown.

“How many times has she thrown up?” Holly asked. “Four? Has she been able to keep anything down?”

There was more frantic chatter. Then Holly glanced at Mel and her expression was determined.

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Holly said.

Mel bounced up from the couch. “What? You can’t!”

Holly turned her back on her.

“See you soon,” Holly said and then she lowered her phone from her ear and ended the call.

“Holly, I know you’re worried about Sydney, but—” Mel began but Holly interrupted her.

“No, you don’t know,” Holly said. “What do you have at home? A cat? It’s not the same and don’t tell me that it is.”

“My cat has nothing to do with this,” Mel said. She knew Holly was freaking out and lashing out, but she needed not to go near her baby Captain Jack. “You are clearly upset and I get that Sydney has a fever—”

“One hundred and four,” Holly said. She began to stride to the back bedroom.

Mel followed hot on her heels. It would be insane for Holly to leave the protection of the suite. They had no idea which crazy Elvis had been the one to shut her in the air vent. They didn’t even know why Holly and her bakeries were the target. For a brief second, Mel wondered if Angie was correct and their rival, Olivia Puckett, could be behind this, but it just didn’t feel right.

Olivia was consumed with her relationship with Marty and she had to know that blowing up the possible locations for their first franchise would pretty much destroy any chance they had as a couple. Otherwise, yeah, Mel could totally see Olivia driving a car through the front of a building to stop her from franchising.

“All right, one hundred and four is worrisome,” Mel said.

Holly didn’t even break stride as she shrugged off her fluffy bathrobe and reached for her clothes. Mel turned away at the sight of so much skin, but she didn’t leave the room.

“So, where is Billy?” Mel asked. “Why is Lisa caring for Sydney on her own?”

“She said he had to go into the office for something,” Holly said.

“Does he normally do that?”

“How should I know? I don’t live with them. Maybe it’s normal, maybe it’s just a freak coincidence that Sydney is sick while her dad is running an errand,” Holly said.

“Why did Lisa call you instead of Billy?”

“She said he wasn’t answering his phone,” Holly said. She tugged on her pants and pulled a shirt over her head then she shoved her feet into a pair of flip-flops.

“His wife is pregnant with their first child,” Mel said. “Isn’t he the sort who would have his phone fully functional at all times in a situation like that?”

“Yes, but maybe he was in a place with no reception,” Holly said. She made to walk around Mel, but Mel grabbed her arm, stopping her.

“Holly, listen to me. Doesn’t any of this strike you as odd?” Mel asked. “Especially after what happened tonight.”

“What are you saying?” Holly asked. She looked overwrought and ready to cry and Mel felt bad, she really did, but they could not afford to be stupid right now.

“How do you know that was Lisa?” she asked.

“The display listed her as the caller,” Holly said.

“But it could have been someone using her phone,” Mel argued. “Did you recognize her voice? Was it absolutely her?”

“Yes, no, maybe, I don’t know. You’re crazy,” Holly said. “Who would do that?”

“Wild guess, but I’d say it’s the same person who knocked you out and shoved you in an air vent,” Mel said.

“But why?” Holly cried. “Why is someone out to get me?”

“I don’t know,” Mel said. “But your daughter is your weak spot.”

“What if she’s really sick and she needs me?” Holly asked. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Call Billy,” Mel said.

Holly looked like she was going to shake Mel off and charge the door, but Mel tightened her hold on Holly’s arm.

“One phone call,” she said. “Just to check.”

“Fine, but if he doesn’t answer, I’m going,” Holly said.

They hustled back to the main room and Holly picked up her phone and called her ex-husband. She held it to her ear, chewing the corner of her thumbnail while she waited.

After several rings, she pulled it away from her ear and shook her head at Mel. “He’s not—”

“Hello.” A male voice came out of her phone, and Mel and Holly exchanged a startled glance.

“Billy?” Holly asked.

Mel could hear him answer but couldn’t make out the words.

“I know it’s late,” Holly said. “I’m checking on Sydney.”

Mel waited, unable to make out what Billy said.

“What do you mean she’s fine?” Holly asked. “Lisa—”

She began but Mel shook her head furiously from side to side. If something funky was going on, they needed to ask questions first and not offer up any info.

“I thought I got a message from Lisa, saying that Sydney was sick,” Holly said. She paused to listen. “She ate four slices of pizza and then went to bed? Huh, maybe it was an old message that just came through. Could you do me a favor and just peek in on her?”

Billy said something and Holly forced a laugh. “Yeah, that’s me, the overprotective one.”

Holly resumed pacing while Mel stood in the kitchen watching her.

“Oh, okay,” Holly said. “Thanks.”

Mel frowned. Clearly, Sydney was fine. What the heck was going on?

“Hey, Billy, is Lisa there?” Holly asked. “She did? Oh, okay, sorry to bother you.” There was a pause and then Holly said, “Thanks again. Sleep well.”

She ended the call and tossed her phone onto the counter. She dug her hands into her hair, dislodging her ponytail.

“Okay, I am now officially freaking out,” Holly said.

“Sydney’s fine?” Mel guessed.

“Sleeping like a baby, according to her dad,” Holly said. “What’s more, Lisa went to bed early because of a backache due to her pregnancy.”

“Someone is using Lisa’s phone then,” Mel said. “Trying to lure you out of the hotel, I guess. Where did she want you to go?”

“Lisa and Billy’s house.”

“I don’t think she was ever going to let you get there,” Mel said. “We need to call Manny right away.”

“This is a nightmare,” Holly said. Her phone went off again and she looked at the display. She frowned and picked it up. “Hi, Billy, what’s up?”

Mel heard his voice, sounding disturbed, and she looked at Holly’s face. Holly paled, looking like she might faint.

“Okay, all right, I’ll call you if I hear from her,” Holly said and she ended the call.

“What’s wrong?” Mel asked.

“Billy said that after we hung up, he went to check on Lisa to see how she was feeling,” Holly said. “She wasn’t there.”